(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - A late home run was too much to overcome for the Charlotte Knights in an 8-4 loss to the Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday night at BB&T Ballpark in the second game of their three-game series.
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - A late home run was too much to overcome for the Charlotte Knights in an 8-4 loss to the Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday night at BB&T Ballpark in the second game of their three-game series.
With the game tied 4-4 in the ninth, Buffalo's Patrick Kivlehan hit a three-run home run off Knights reliever Thyago Vieira (L, 5-3) to give the Bisons a 7-4 lead. Alen Hanson added a run with a double to center later in the frame, capping the night's scoring at 8-4 Buffalo. In the bottom of the inning, Bisons reliever Jason Adam pitched a scoreless inning to finish the win.
The Knights were able to take the early lead on Danny Mendick's double play ground out with the bases loaded to score Zack Collins in the bottom of the second. An inning later, Collins laced a two-out double to center to score a pair of runs for a 3-0 Charlotte lead.
In the fourth, consecutive singles from Luis Robert, Daniel Palka, and rehabbing Chicago White Sox infielder Tim Anderson plated another run for Charlotte to hold a 4-0 advantage.
Charlotte starter Odrisamer Despaigne was able to hold that lead. However, the Bisons began their comeback in the sixth on Reese McGuire's RBI single to get the visitors on the board. Jordan Patterson doubled to right off reliever Matt Foster to trim the Charlotte lead to 4-2 a couple hitters later.
Despaigne threw 5.1 innings, giving up two earned runs on eight hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. He would not factor in the final decision.
In the seventh, Richard Ureña's RBI single made it a one-run game off Charlotte reliever Connor Walsh and the Bisons tied it in the eighth on Patterson's home run to set up the game-winning rally in the ninth.
Offensively, the Knights were led by Anderson's 3-for-4 night with an RBI in the first game of his rehab assignment. Collins and Palka each recorded two hits in the loss.
Buffalo and Charlotte conclude their series on Thursday night at BB&T Ballpark. Kyle Kubat (1-1, 6.14) is set to start on the mound for the Knights. Pregame coverage of the 7:04 p.m. game is set for 6:50 p.m. on 730 The Game ESPN Charlotte. The "Voice of the Charlotte Knights" Matt Swierad and long-time Knights radio broadcaster Mike Pacheco will have the call for all of the action
